City comparison
No. Garland's crime index is 87 versus 203 in Winston Salem, and its violent crime index is 62 versus 225, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Winston Salem is cheaper. Median rent is $1,087 a month versus $1,641 in Garland.
Safety is where Winston Salem and Garland split most clearly. Garland scores 116 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,087 in Winston Salem and $1,641 in Garland.
Garland is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Winston Salem makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Garland is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Winston Salem at $1,087 average has pockets that run $887 and others at $1,487: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Winston Salem and Garland are 958 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,087 a month in Winston Salem to $1,641 a month in Garland, up $554 a month (51%).
Median household income goes from $59,268 in Winston Salem to $76,320 in Garland, up $17,052 (29%).
The crime index goes from 203 in Winston Salem to 87 in Garland, down 116 points (57%).
The move
Garland and Winston Salem are 958 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $1,087 a month in Winston Salem, down $554 a month (34%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $59,268 in Winston Salem, down $17,052 (22%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 203 in Winston Salem, up 116 points (133%).
Winston Salem, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Garland, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Winston Salem and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
34% cheaper
Winston Salem rent is 34% cheaper than Garland
Winston Salem
Winner$1,087/mo
Garland
$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,087 a month in Winston Salem versus $1,641 in Garland, so Winston Salem is 34% cheaper. That's roughly $554/month back in your pocket ($6,648/year). Over five years that's $33,240 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Garland, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Winston Salem is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
29% higher
Garland's median income is 29% higher than Winston Salem
Winston Salem
$59,268
Garland
Winner$76,320
Median household income is $76,320 in Garland versus $59,268 in Winston Salem, so typical pay runs 29% higher in Garland (about $17,052 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Garland is the stronger labor market on paper. Winston Salem can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
57% lower crime
Garland's crime index is 57% lower than Winston Salem
Winston Salem
203 (100 = avg)
Garland
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Garland's crime index is 87 versus 203 in Winston Salem (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 57% lower in Garland. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Garland is the easier city. Winston Salem can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
33% more comfortable
Garland weather is 33% more comfortable than Winston Salem
Winston Salem
56°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 75/100
Garland
Winner66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Winston Salem averages about 56°F (66°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). Winston Salem averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Garland sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Garland scores 33% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Winston Salem if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Winston Salem
Winston Salem is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 34% cheaper here at about $1,087 a month. Choose Winston Salem if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 29% higher ($76,320), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 66°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Garland is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 57% lower than Winston Salem (87 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Garland: Garland scores 64/100 versus 38/100 in Winston Salem, with typical rent at $1,641 versus $1,087. I would vet the exact ZIP in Winston Salem before trading 26 safety points for housing savings.
Garland still pays more locally ($76,320 median income vs $59,268), which can offset the lease if your field pays Garland rates.
Weather averages land near 56°F in Winston Salem and 66°F in Garland.
If safety drives your move, Garland is the stronger match (64/100 safety versus 38/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Winston Salem, treat $1,087/month rent and $59,268 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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